Now I am one happy camper again. *stares longingly at the screen* Now I just have to convince my family (who already believe I have far too much Hobbit on my mind, although I contest that that is an impossibility) that this would be the best birthday present ever.

Thanks so much for the link, Old Toby! *hugs* "I had forgotten that. It is hard to be sure of anything among so many marvels. The world is all grown strange. Elf and Dwarf in company walk in our daily fields; and folk speak with the Lady of the Wood and yet live; and the Sword comes back to war that was broken in the long ages ere the fathers of our fathers rode into the Mark! How shall a man judge what to do in such times?"

"As he ever has judged. Good and ill have not changed since yesteryear; nor are they one thing among Elves and Dwarves and another among Men. It is a man's part to discern them, as much in the Golden Wood as in his own house."

My Top 5 Wish List for "The Hobbit"5. Legolas will surf down Smaug's neck 4. Bilbo will be revealed to a Robot 3. Naked PJ cameo as Ghan-Buri-Ghan 2. Use of not only 3D, but smell-o-vision, plus the inclusion of axes coming out of the seats and poking the audience when appropriate 1. Not only keep the claim that Thorin & Co. ran amok in Mirkwood "molesting people", but depict said incident in vivid detail!!!!!

I also like Thror's beard ornaments, Thranduil's crown, Radagast's mismatched shoes, Fili's twin swords and knife-holding vambrance, Young Thorin's beard holder and his royal blue undercoat, and Balin's jeweler's loupe.

But my absolute favorite... Thorin's wig.

(Come on--somebody had to mention it. ) "To remember love after long sleep; to turn again to poetry after a year in the marketplace, or to youth after resignation to drowsy and stiffening old age; to remember what once you thought life could hold, after telling over with muddied and calculating fingers what it has offered; this is music, made after long silence."--The Hollow Hills

I loved Dwalin. He was just so perfectly done. I loved the tatoos and thought they were a very nice touch. Very awesome and fierce dwarf look overall. Good choice. Thank you for your questions, now go sod off and do something useful - Martin Freeman Twitter chat 3/1/13

In fact, I think Dwalin's entire look exudes barbaric splendor.Coming soon!- The first TORn Amateur Symposium, starts Sunday 21st July in the Reading Room. Closing date for essay submission Sunday 14th July, but even if you don't submit, join us for some interesting discussion on some different and personal ways of looking at Tolkien's work.

to see if we can get the gold buttons from the last chapter of the book (and maybe TABA?)..."To remember love after long sleep; to turn again to poetry after a year in the marketplace, or to youth after resignation to drowsy and stiffening old age; to remember what once you thought life could hold, after telling over with muddied and calculating fingers what it has offered; this is music, made after long silence."--The Hollow Hills

Everything relating to Bilbo: I want his bag!!! His jackets and robe are lovely. I have a female version of his red jacket. Rivendell elves- I like that you can tell how their style in clothing evolved from Hobbit times to LOTR times. Beautiful dresses. All the dwarves' boots, especially Thorin's boots. The metal hair accessories- dwarves & elves. I'm surprised these aren't more available to buy. Thranduil's crown- not my style, but fits the character well I second the mentions of Thorin's coat and Kili's shirt. Very nice! Mithril vest deserves another mention. Wows me every time.

I think I'm in the minority, but I didn't care for Galadriel's outfit. It's nearly identical to LOTR and the over-dress thing adds nothing. I do like her crown, though. I guess she's like gandalf-- the characters don't change much, nor need to change. "Why, to think of it, we're in the same tale still! It's going on. Don't the great tales never end?" -Samwise